Buying Dilemma

[J.P]

I am going through a bit of a heart vs. head scenario at the moment between buying a Ferrari 360 or a Porsche 996 Turbo. I am not worried about the technical side of both cars more the praticality...

I posted a while back regarding the size of the 360 and fitting in "New Build" garages, so am happy it will fit in ok, but I still have 2 main concerns..

1) The 360 will attract more attention, which I don't have much of a problem with (having had a Tuscan), but its not the car you can just jump in / drive / and park somewhere without worrying about it being molested by some scroat. The Porsche is far more sedate and there are lots about so would go unoticed in most car parks.

2) Parking a Ferrari at work. I do not own my own company, and will be parking amongst everyone else in the company car park. When I first brought the Tuscan into work, I had the feeling that other collegues were "were does he get the money from", and when my manager drives a Freelander, and I roll up in a 360 - you can image what will be going through his mind.
I do however have a 2nd car so it won't be a daily driver, but I would like to drvie the car more than just at the weekend. I am fortunate enough to have saved enough to buy the car of my dreams, so it not like I have suddenly had a windfall or a lottery win
Again the Porsche option would be the less "flamboyant", and again may not get noticed as much.

Appologies for the ramble, but any thoughts would be appreciated to try and help make up my mind.

James...

[funky]

I've always been paranoid about my cars being scratched and messed with. But i've since learnt that a partial respray of the damaged area won't break the back and the car will look as good as new. If it happens, it happens, but it's easy to sort. Plus you would have to be very unlucky for it to happen in the first place. Best not to stress about it

I understand where your coming from but like you said you have saved up and are now able to buy the car of your dreams. From your post it comes across to me that the ferrari is that dream car, more then the porsche. Forget what others think and do what you want with your hard earned money. Afterall you may as well live for the day as you have no idea what's around the corner!

Edited by funky on Sunday 11th February 12:01

[murph7355]

If you're worried about what other people are going to think, why buy one? After all, you're buying it to use and to get enjoyment from. If this is going to be tainted through worrying about what others think, you'll regret buying.

I'd also think the Porsche would engender at least as much jealousy/comment too. After all, it'll have the Turbo badge on the back and all the spoilers/scoops in it. So anyone who even half knows their onions will know...

I only have the 355 as a sensible car. My colleagues know I have it. I couldn't give a rat's what anyone thinks, but if they ask me I talk to them about it. End of the day I have no kids or other responsibilities. And my bosses know what they pay me. Plus, these cars are ultimately not *that* expensive to own/run all things considered. Probably no worse than a well spec'd BMW 530 or so in absolute terms. If you're really worried, tell them you had a small win on the lottery

Educating those who ask is fun. Those who don't ask and would rather be judgemental behind your back aren't worth your time or concern anyway...

[neil360]

Buy the car you want you should not worry about what others think.
Either car could be vandalised as they do instill hate in certain types!
I have had Porsche and Ferrari and actually the Porsche is the only car that I
1 Have been spat at
2 Brick thrown at (due to being a blue car going past Celtic Park)
3 Abuse shouted from both pavement and other road users
When in the Ferrari people seem to point ,wave and or smile.

Edited by neil360 on Sunday 11th February 16:17

[J.P]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I just need to stop worrying and buy the car and enjoy it. Alot of people have a "perceived" cost of a Ferrari, and they usually put it in the 80k - 100k bracket, where in effect if they did their research, they are more obtainable and not that expensive to run (well compared to a TVR maybe).

I do however envy the people that can just park their exotic car and you know they are not worried about it - i'd be making random checks that its still there and having sleepless nights that its not gone in the morning...Funny how I don't feel that way about the Primera...

James..

[murph7355]

J.P said:

...I do however envy the people that can just park their exotic car and you know they are not worried about it - i'd be making random checks that its still there and having sleepless nights that its not gone in the morning...Funny how I don't feel that way about the Primera...

James..

You get used to leaving them parked around.

Mine gets parked wherever I need to go. No point having a car if you can't get from a to b.

Once had the badge nicked off an old Alfa, but never had any hassle with the Ferrari (save for some idiot running into the side of it at a supermarket and not leaving their particulars - however this can happen with any car, and if you're sensible who you use to fix it, it needn't cost more than a "normal" car to put right either).

[andysv]

have you driven both? i normally know then which one i must have after a test run.
IMHO a porsche has never felt quite as exciting to drive or own compared to an italian.
though i recently drove a 996 turbo with circa 580bhp, aha now that was slightly different but i still didn't want to buy it.

[J.P]

I am in the process of sorting out a side by side test with a dealer - however I have seen a couple of 360's in passing near Portsmouth and its a real headturner / wind down window moment for me so the Porsche will have to do something special for me.
Having pirouetted the Tuscan on the M27 in the wet, I also want something with a little CPU power keeping me in a straight line when I put my foot down...

James...

[burriana]

J.P said:

I had the feeling that other collegues were "were does he get the money from", and when my manager drives a Freelander, and I roll up in a 360 - you can image what will be going through his mind.

That's part of the fun ... enlighten them, or not, as the whim takes you

[crikeymikey]

A dilemma worth having.
As several here have said. One really should pull on your heartstrings more than the other.
Both are close to perfection and choosing is very much a subjective thing. Real differences between them, or even within their own model range, are minimal.
The 360 is, well, it's a Ferrari. With the possible exception of one other manufacturer (ahem!) things don't get a lot cooler. Negative reaction can bequite common IMO.
The Turbo is possibly the finest road sportscar ever built, bar none. And idiot proof in way the 360 can never be. It's also practical and more discrete.
I'm sure we all wish you well with your decision.

[burriana]

I'll second that. After going from Ferrari to 911 I firmly believe that the Porsche 911 is the best all-round sportscar in the world ... but I would choose the Ferrari any day of the week.

You can feel the quality and the tuetonic perfection in every aspect of the Porsche ... in the Ferrari you feel the soul and heritage and the passion every time you get behind the wheel.

It gets under your skin and every day for me is one day closer until I can return to the Ferrari stable

[murph7355]

J.P said:

...Having pirouetted the Tuscan on the M27 in the wet, I also want something with a little CPU power keeping me in a straight line when I put my foot down...

James...

I'm not convinced a 360 is your bag then. Not known for being Ferrari's most forgiving car.

The best CPU power for preventing trouble is between your ears

[Pacoryan]

Buy the Ferrari and make sure it isn't red. I have had abuse driving red ones, but used a blue one daily for a couple of years and only had compliments.

As for the money side when people ask about running my Maserati I say it's cheaper than smoking and that usually shuts them up.

[J.P]

Thanks for all the replys, and I do understand where you are all coming from. I am not looking at the resale value and know I would get spanked by putting miles on it, and with this in mind I do not therefore have to go for the most popular colour choice.

Plus I don't want to walk out of the house each morning wondering what could have been if I ended going down the Porsche route....

As for the Tuscan episode, its was a 5th to 4th (on cam) gearchange at 60mph in the wet that caused the problem, and the fact that you can go lock to lock without crossing your arms, so my correction was a little over-eeger. I am only looking for traction control etc to keep me out of trouble - however I want to do another course in a skid car.

Thanks,
James...

[tomtom]

Buy a £500-1000 shed to drive to work.

I get enough stick for driving my £8000 plastic toy to work once a week.